Transmission unit receiving and storing means

1. A receiving and storing means (1) for transmission units (TRU) containing information, each transmission unit having a format such that it contains a plurality of unit property fields (10-14) that each contain a value associated with a property of said transmission unit, comprising: storage means (2) for storing transmission units, said storage means being arranged such that any transmission unit stored therein is allocated to one or more of a plurality of predetermined groups (G.sub.1, G.sub.2, . . . , G.sub.n ; i), data determination means (3) arranged such that the respective values in a predetermined number of unit property fields of a transmission unit received by said receiving means are determined, and, for certain groups of said storage means, corresponding values in the same predetermined number of unit property fields of all transmission units in said certain groups are determined, comparison means (4) for comparing said values from said received transmission unit with the values from said transmission units contained in said certain groups, comparison evaluation means (5) arranged such that, for each of said certain groups, the number of times (O.sub.ji) is counted that a value from a specific unit property field (j) of said received transmission unit occurs in the same specific unit property field (j) of transmission units stored in said group (i), to thereby determine a value occurrence value (O.sub.ji) for said same specific unit property field (j) of said group (i), calculation means (6) arranged such that each value occurrence value (O.sub.ji) for a given unit property field (j) and given group (i) is multiplied with a multiplication factor (W.sub.ji) that depends on said given unit property field (j) and said given group (i), to thereby calculate a number of group product values that are equal in number to said predetermined number of unit property fields, and, for each of said certain groups, said group product values are added together to a sum, said sum being divided by the number (n.sub.i) of transmission units in said group (i), to thereby generate a storage decision value (S.sub.i) for each of said certain groups, and storage decision means (7) for deciding in which of all groups of said storage means to store said received transmission unit, on the basis of said storage decision values (S.sub.i) of said certain groups.

2. A receiving and storing means according to claim 1, wherein storage decision means (7) are arranged such that the storage decision values (S.sub.i) are compared and the largest value is determined, said received transmission unit being stored in the group associated with said largest value.

3. A receiving and storing means according to claim 2, wherein said storage decision means (7) are arranged such that also the second largest of said storage decision values (S.sub.i) is determined, the difference between said largest and said second largest value is determined, and if said difference is smaller than a predetermined limit, said received transmission unit is also stored in the group associated with said second largest storage decision value (S.sub.i).

4. A receiving and storing means according to claim 1, wherein said storage decision means (7) is arranged such that the storage decision values (S.sub.i) are compared and the largest value is determined, said largest value being compared to a threshold value (T) that depends on the group associated with said largest value, wherein said received transmission unit is stored in said group associated with said largest value if said largest value exceeds said threshold value, and otherwise in a different, predetermined group.

5. A receiving and storing means according to claim 4, wherein said storage decision means (7) is arranged such that also the second largest of said storage decision values (S.sub.i) is determined, the difference between said largest and said second largest value is determined, and if said difference is smaller than a predetermined limit and said second largest value also exceeds said threshold value (T), said received transmission unit is also stored in the group associated with said second largest storage decision value (S.sub.i).

6. A receiving and storing means according to claim 1, wherein said calculation means (7) is arranged to automatically calculate each multiplication factor (W.sub.ji) for the associated property field (j) and group (i) on the basis of the disorder (d.sub.ji) of the values from said associated property field (j) with respect to the transmission units stored in said group (i) in comparison to the transmission units stored in the other groups of said certain groups.

7. A receiving and storing means according to claim 6, wherein said data determination means (3) is arranged to determine, for each of said predetermined number (P) of property fields, the number K.sub.j of different values value.sub.k contained in the respective property fields of the transmission units stored in said certain groups, said different values value.sub.k, the number of times Q.sub.ji (value.sub.k) that each of said values value.sub.k of each of said property fields (j) occurs in a given one (i) of said certain groups, the number of times NQ.sub.ji (value.sub.k) that each of said values value.sub.k of each of said property fields (j) occurs in the other groups of said certain groups besides said one given group, the total number T.sub.ji of times that one of said values value.sub.k occurs in the transmission units stored in all of said certain groups, and the total number N of transmission units stored in all of said certain groups, said calculating means is arranged to calculate said disorder d.sub.ji through the following equation: ##EQU10## where the term ##EQU11## is set equal to zero if the value Q.sub.ji (value.sub.k) is equal to zero, and the term ##EQU12## is set equal to zero if the value NQ.sub.ji (value.sub.k) is equal to zero, and said calculation means is arranged to calculate said multiplication factor W.sub.ji associated with each of said property fields (j) and each of said groups (i) through the following equation ##EQU13## where P is the number of predetermined property fields.

8. A receiving and storing means according to claim 1, wherein a display means and a control means for said display means are provided, and said display means is arranged to display a graphical user interface for entering parameters.

9. A receiving and storing means according to claim 1, wherein a means is provided, which is arranged to regularly determine a characteristic date for each of said transmission units stored in said certain groups, compare said characteristic date with the current date, and delete said transmission unit if the difference between said characteristic date and the current date exceeds a predetermined time limit.

10. A communication system comprising: a receiving and storing means according to claim 1, and a transmission means connected to said receiving and storing means, for transmitting transmission units.

11. A communication system according to claim 10, wherein said transmission means is a data network for carrying electronic mail messages, and said transmission units are electronic mail messages.

12. A method for receiving and storing transmission units (TRU) containing information, each transmission unit having a format such that it contains a plurality of unit property fields (10-14) that each contain a value associated with a property of said transmission unit, said transmission units being stored in a storage means, where said storage means is arranged such that any transmission unit stored therein is allocated to one or more of a plurality of predetermined groups (G.sub.1, G.sub.2, . . . , G.sub.n ; i), comprising the steps of: determining the respective values in a predetermined number of unit property fields of a received transmission unit, and, for certain groups of said storage means, determining corresponding values in the same predetermined number of unit property fields of all transmission units in said certain groups, comparing said values from said received transmission unit with the values from said transmission units contained in said certain groups, counting, for each of said certain groups, the number of times (O.sub.ji) that a value from a specific unit property field (j) of said received transmission unit occurs in the same specific unit property field (j) of transmission units stored in said group (i), to thereby determine a value occurrence value (O.sub.ji) for said same specific unit property field (j) of said group (i), multiplying each value occurrence value (O.sub.ji) for a given unit property field (j) and given group (i) with a multiplication factor (W.sub.ji) that depends on said given unit property field (j) and said given group (i), to thereby calculate a number of group product values that are equal in number to said predetermined number of unit property fields, and, adding, for each of said certain groups, said group product values together to a sum, said sum being divided by the number (n.sub.i) of transmission units in said group (i), to thereby generate a storage decision value (S.sub.i) for each of said certain groups, and deciding in which of all groups of said storage means to store said received transmission unit, on the basis of said storage decision values (S.sub.i) of said certain groups.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the storage decision values (S.sub.i) are compared and the largest value is determined, said received transmission unit being stored in the group associated with said largest value.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein also the second largest of said storage decision values (S.sub.i) is determined, the difference between said largest and said second largest value is determined, and if said difference is smaller than a predetermined limit, said received transmission unit is also stored in the group associated with said second largest storage decision value (S.sub.i).

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the storage decision values (S.sub.i) are compared and the largest value is determined, said largest value being compared to a threshold value (T) that depends on the group associated with said largest value, wherein said received transmission unit is stored in said group associated with said largest value if said largest value exceeds said threshold value, and otherwise in a different, predetermined group.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein also the second largest of said storage decision values (S.sub.i) is determined, the difference between said largest and said second largest value is determined, and if said difference is smaller than a predetermined limit and said second largest value also exceeds said threshold value (T), said received transmission unit is also stored in the group associated with said second largest storage decision value (S.sub.i).

17. A method according to claim 12, wherein each multiplication factor (W.sub.ji) for the associated property field (j) and group (i) is calculated on the basis of the disorder (d.sub.ji) of the values from said associated property field (j) with respect to the transmission units stored in said group (i) in comparison to the transmission units stored in the other groups of said certain groups.

18. A method according to claim 17, comprising the steps: determining, for each of said predetermined number (P) of property fields, the number K.sub.j of different values value.sub.k contained in the respective property fields of the transmission units stored in said certain groups, said different values value.sub.k, the number of times Q.sub.ji (value.sub.k) that each of said values value.sub.k of each of said property fields (j) occurs in a given one (i) of said certain groups, the number of times NQ.sub.ji (value.sub.k) that each of said values value.sub.k of each of said property fields (j) occurs in the other groups of said certain groups besides said one given group, the total number T.sub.ji of times that one of said values value.sub.k occurs in the transmission units stored in all of said certain groups, and the total number N of transmission units stored in all of said certain groups, calculating said disorder d.sub.ji through the following equation: ##EQU14## where the term ##EQU15## is set equal to zero if the value Q.sub.ji (value.sub.k) is equal to zero, and the term ##EQU16## is set equal to zero if the value NQ.sub.ji (value.sub.k) is equal to zero, and calculating said multiplication factor W.sub.ji associated with each of said property fields (j) and each of said groups (i) through the following equation ##EQU17## where P is the number of predetermined property fields.

19. A method according to claim 12, wherein a graphical user interface is provided for entering parameters being displayed on a display means.

20. A method according to claim 12, comprising the steps of regularly determining a characteristic date for each of said transmission units stored in said certain groups, comparing said characteristic date with the current date, and deleting said transmission unit if the difference between said characteristic date and the current date exceeds a predetermined time limit.

21. A method according to claim 12, wherein said transmission units are electronic mail messages which are transmitted over a data network for carrying electronic mail messages.

22. Computer program for the receipt and storage of transmission units (TRU) containing information, each transmission unit having a format such that it contains a plurality of unit property fields (10-14) that each contain a value associated with a property of said transmission unit, said computer program being designed to store said transmission units in a storage means, where said computer program is designed such that any transmission unit stored stored in said storage means is allocated to one or more of a plurality of predetermined groups (G.sub.1, G.sub.2, . . . , G.sub.n ; i), said computer program implementing a method comprising the steps of: determining the respective values in a predetermined number of unit property fields of a received transmission unit, and, for certain groups of said storage means, determining corresponding values in the same predetermined number of unit property fields of all transmission units in said certain groups, comparing said values from said received transmission unit with the values from said transmission units contained in said certain groups, counting, for each of said certain groups, the number of times (O.sub.ji) that a value from a specific unit property field (j) of said received transmission unit occurs in the same specific unit property field (j) of transmission units stored in said group (i), to thereby determine a value occurrence value (O.sub.ji) for said same specific unit property field (j) of said group:, multiplying each value occurrence value (O.sub.ji) for a given unit property field (j) and given group (i) with a multiplication factor (W.sub.ji) that depends on said given unit property field (j) and said given group (i), to thereby calculate a number of group product values that are equal in number to said predetermined number of unit property fields, and, adding, for each of said certain groups, said group product values together to a sum, said sum being divided by the number (n.sub.i) of transmission units in said group (i), to thereby generate a storage decision value (S.sub.i) for each of said certain groups, and deciding in which of all groups of said storage means to store said received transmission unit, on the basis of said storage decision values (S.sub.i) of said certain groups.

23. Computer program for receiving and storing electronic messages, said electronic messages having a format such that they contain specific fields that contain information associated with a property of the electronic message, where said computer program is designed to store said electronic messages in a storage means, such that any electronic message being stored is allocated to one or more of a plurality of predetermined groups, said computer program being designed to implement a method on a computer running said computer program, where said method comprises the steps of: determining predetermined information associated with a property of a received electronic message, and, for certain groups, determining corresponding information associated with the same property for all electronic messages in said certain groups, comparing said information from said received electronic message with the information from said electronic messages contained in said certain groups, counting, for each of said certain groups, the number of times that an information associated with a specific property of said received electronic message appears in the electronic messages stored in said group, to thereby determine an occurrence value that indicates the occurrence of said information associated with a specific property for said group, multiplying each occurrence value for a given property and given group with a multiplication factor that depends on said given property and said given group, to thereby calculate a number of group product values, adding, for each of said certain groups, said group product values together to a sum, said sum being divided by the number of electronic messages in said group, to thereby generate a storage decision value for each of said certain groups, and deciding in which of all groups of said storage means to store said received electronic message, on the basis of said storage decision values of said certain groups.

24. Computer program according to claim 23, wherein said electronic messages are electronic mails, and said groups are electronic folders for receiving said electronic mails.

25. Computer program for receiving and storing electronic messages, said electronic messages having a format such that they contain specific fields that contain information associated with a property of the electronic message, where said computer program is designed to store said electronic messages in a storage means, such that any electronic message being stored is allocated to one or more of a plurality of predetermined groups, said computer program being designed to implement a method on a computer running said computer program, where said method comprises the steps of: determining predetermined information associated with a property of a received electronic message, and, for certain groups, determining corresponding information associated with the same property for all electronic messages in said certain groups, comparing said information from said received electronic message with the information from said electronic messages contained in said certain groups, counting, for each of said certain groups, the number of times that an information associated with a specific property of said received electronic message appears in the electronic messages stored in said group, to thereby determine an occurrence value that indicates the occurrence of said information associated with a specific property for said group, multiplying each occurrence value for a given property and given group with a multiplication factor that depends on said given property and said given group, to thereby calculate a number of group product values, adding, for each of said certain groups, said group product values together to a sum, said sum being divided by the number of electronic messages in said group, to thereby generate a storage decision value for each of said certain groups, and deciding in which of all groups of said storage means to store said received electronic message, on the basis of said storage decision values of said certain groups, where the storage decision values are compared and the largest value is determined, said received electronic message being stored in the group associated with said largest value.

26. Computer program for receiving and storing electronic messages, said electronic messages having a format such that they contain specific fields that contain information associated with a property of the electronic message, where said computer program is designed to store said electronic messages in a storage means, such that any electronic message being stored is allocated to one or more of a plurality of predetermined groups, said computer program being designed to implement a method on a computer running said computer program, where said method comprises the steps of: determining predetermined information associated with a property of a received electronic message, and, for certain groups, determining corresponding information associated with the same property for all electronic messages in said certain groups, comparing said information from said received electronic message with the information from said electronic messages contained in said certain groups, counting, for each of said certain groups, the number of times that an information associated with a specific property of said received electronic message appears in the electronic messages stored in said group, to thereby determine an occurrence value that indicates the occurrence of said information associated with a specific property for said group, multiplying each occurrence value for a given property and given group with a multiplication factor that depends on said given property and said given group, to thereby calculate a number of group product values, adding, for each of said certain groups, said group product values together to a sum, said sum being divided by the number of electronic messages in said group, to thereby generate a storage decision value for each of said certain groups, and deciding in which of all groups of said storage means to store said received electronic message, on the basis of said storage decision values of said certain groups, where the storage decision values are compared and the largest value is determined, said largest value being compared to a threshold value that depends on the group associated with said largest value, where said received electronic message is stored in said group associated with said largest value if said largest value exceeds said threshold value, and otherwise in a different, predetermined group.